Laure Manaudou, the 2004 Olympic champion whose success in the pool took a dive when she left coach Philippe Lucas after Melbourne 2007 world titles, has called time on her career – at least for the 2008-2009 season. The swimmer announced in France this morning that she will not race again this year and is taking time out to consider her future.

Photo from GettyImages by AFP/GettyImages.

Manaudou’s agent and lawyer, Didier Poulmaire, has just issued the following statement: “Laure Manaudou has decided to call a halt to her 2008-2009 season and take a break from training as an elite athlete. She will therefore not compete at forthcoming competitions, domestic or international, in the 2008-2009 season.”

>>Read the Full Story as reported by Craig Lord of SwimNews.com